Love and Betrayal
Hermione awoke to someone knocking on the door. She shook her head and looked next to her. Her book was sitting there, opened to the page she had left off with. She got off the bed and went to the door.
"Hello Hermione," Ebony greeted.
"Oh, hello Ebony, please come in," Hermione replied.
Ebony came in and sat down. "How are you?" she asked.
"Oh, just fine," Hermione replied as she went to pick up the book.
"Isn't that T- the Dark Lord's book?" Ebony asked.
Hermione spun around to look at her. "Yes it is. But how did you know?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, well I've been in the Dark Lord's private library many times and I have even read that book," Ebony replied.
Hermione smiled and came to sit beside Ebony. "Hey, Ebony, don't you find this strange?" Hermione asked. She was pointing to the wall above the fireplace. It looked like it had been spelled or something.
Ebony stood up to look closer. Her brow furrowed and she looked around the room before she smiled and took out her wand. She said a spell and the wall began to shrink back and soon there was a small alcove with a portrait.
Hermione looked closer. The lady in the portrait wore an emerald green gown with a full skirt and bell sleeves. Over the gown was an emerald cloak with gold fastening. The woman wore a choker around her neck that was a snake but in the center was an emerald. The woman's hair had been pulled back and was secured by two braids of her own raven hair. She had porcelain skin and lively midnight blue eyes.
Hermione's eyes traveled to the bottom of the portrait which said, 'Julianna Marvolo' (1907-1927).
"Who was she?" she asked Ebony.
"That was the Dark Lord's mother. She was only 20 when she died. All this furniture used to belong to her. It was in the Marvolo mansion," Ebony said.
"But do you remember anything about last night?" Ebony asked.
"Not really but I do know that had a horrible headache when I woke up and Voldemort was in my room," Hermione replied.
Ebony's eyes widened. "Are you in pain?" she asked.
"No," Hermione replied.
Ebony smiled. "Well, perhaps the Dark Lord slept in your bed?" she questioned.
Hermione scrunched up her nose like there was something yucky under it. "I hope not. Though maybe that would explain why my source of warmth felt like skin," she said.
Both women turned around as the door opened. Voldemort stepped into the room and came over to them. The smile or smirk as Hermione thought, slid off his face when he saw the portrait.
"Hello Tom," his mother said.
"Mother, I see you've met Hermione," he said.
"I was not properly introduced, they only just uncovered my portrait," Julianna replied.
Hermione smiled up at the woman who was Julianna Marvolo or Riddle. "I'm Hermione Granger," she said.
Julianna smiled as she glanced to Voldemort and Ebony. Ebony bit her lip as she stared into the fire.
Voldemort smiled at Hermione and grabbed Ebony's arm. "I must speak with E-Miss Slithinm in the hallway," he said before the two disappeared into the hallway.
Hermione shrugged her shoulders though she was a bit puzzled by it. She turned back to Julianna's portrait.
"My dear, you know I've wanted to meet you forever! Tom has mentioned you a few times and that only perked up my interest," Julianna said, smiling down at Hermione.
Hermione raised an eyebrow but smiled back. Voldemort's mother was, well very interesting. She wasn't how Hermione imagined. She expected Voldemort's mother to be some cold hearted woman with pureblooded ideals in her head. But Hermione, rationalized, Julianna did marry a muggle. She wondered how Voldemort would have turned out if his mother had lived.
Hermione shook her head because it wouldn't do to dwell on what if? She was puzzled by the fact that Voldemort had mentioned her to his mother. And Ebony almost called Voldemort Tom and Voldemort almost called Ebony, well Ebony. And he hadn't done that before. She was also worried about spending anymore time in the snake pit as she referred to the group of death eater ladies. True, most of them weren't death eaters but wives to death eaters but they supported the cause their husbands were part of.
Hermione looked towards the door as Ebony and Voldemort returned. Ebony forcefully smiled at Hermione but she knew something was up. Voldemort came over and kissed Hermione's hand while Julianna smiled. Hermione rolled her eyes and snatched her hand.
"What?" Voldemort asked, "Am I not allowed to kiss your hand like a gentleman?"
"If you were such a gentleman, you would not kill innocent muggles or sleep in the same bed as me!" Hermione replied coldly.
Voldemort's smirk disappeared and was replaced with a glare. He grabbed Hermione, pulling her close.
"I would not say that in front of my mother," he whispered into her ear, his breath feathering over her neck. She shivered involuntarily and wrenched herself from his grip.
"And as for me sleeping in your bed," he continued, "you wouldn't let go of my robes."
"You still had a choice. My friends know how..." Hermione trailed off at the mention of her friends. She hadn't realized how much she missed them.
Voldemort smirked and arched an eyebrow. Hermione glared at him and turned away towards the fireplace.
"What about dear Potter?" Voldemort asked. He knew of course that he was provoking her but he couldn't help it.
Hermione spun around to face him, rage burning in her eyes. "You have no right to speak of my friends. Ginny and I used to stay up late at night and when I get really sleepy I cling to the person I'm with. Ginny knew how to make me let go," Hermione replied.
Voldemort smirked. "Yes, dear Ginevra. How sad it seems that she betrayed you. How Draco betrayed you. They led you here because they are both faithful death eaters," he said.
Hermione snorted. "I'm sorry but don't take it personally if I don't believe you," Hermione replied.
"Ah but you do my dear Hermione. You have a seed of doubt in your brain. Draco was the one who shot the stunning spell at the two of you. They left afterwards," Voldemort continued.
Hermione glared at him. She refused to believe him. He wanted to turn her away from her friends.
"And if Potter knew that you had, intimate dreams of me, what would he think?" Voldemort said.
Hermione stared into the fire, refusing to look at him. How did he know about the dreams? She remembered the conversation Lupin and Dumbledore were having the day of the mission.
"—would not be happy about such a thing. That would be like using her because he would capture if given the chance. Snape already said..."
Snape. He had contact with Voldemort and he would capture her if given the chance. But what had Snape said?
"Are you the one having the dreams?" Hermione burst out.
Ebony took in a sharp breath while her eyes went wide. Just looking at her, Hermione knew.
Voldemort instead asked, "Why do you ask?"
Hermione looked into his face. He looked so calm, so composed. Just looking at him infuriated her. He looked confident.
"You are the most infuriating git I've ever met and that is saying something! Ron Weasley is very much a git and I used to think no one could top him but I was wrong. You are just a pompous ass who believes he can scare people into telling him things and that he always has the upper hand. You are afraid for people to find out your emotions and you hide behind that confidence!" Hermione burst out suddenly.
Ebony was staring in horror but Voldemort hadn't moved a muscle. He merely quirked an eyebrow before he began to laugh.
Hermione glared at him. "What is so funny?" she asked, calming down. She began to feel dumb as the reality of the situation weighed down on her. She had yelled at Voldemort and he hadn't cursed her but was laughing? The entire world was going crazy, was Hermione's only thought.
Voldemort continued to laugh and it began to irritate Hermione. She finally stomped over to him and slapped him soundly.
Voldemort stopped laughing and looked at her. Hermione's face was red and her eyes were burning with rage. Before Hermione could get a word out of her mouth, Voldemort kissed her.
Hermione wrapped her arms around Voldemort's neck and brought him closer, her anger fading away. She moaned as he rubbed his tongue against hers and that brought Hermione to her senses. She pushed Voldemort away and glared at him.
"Why did you do that?" she asked, trying to wipe her mouth on her sleeve.
Voldemort smiled. "I will see you at dinner," he said and left.
Hermione gaped after him like a fish. "What makes him think…? That- that… How dare he!" Hermione spluttered.
"Are you alright?" Ebony asked.
"Yes other than that infuriating pompous ass," Hermione replied. She breathed in deep ten times trying to get rid of her anger.
Hermione looked to Ebony. "Is it true? About Ginny and Draco being death eaters?" she asked.
"Well, I know that Draco is. If he's working for the Order, it's not for real. As for Ginny, I don't know. I've never seen her around the death eater women but I've heard Narcissa and Bella mention her," Ebony replied.
Hermione turned her head away. How could her friends have betrayed her? And Ginny! They had known one another since Ginny's first year but they had become friends in Ginny's second year. How could Ginny do this?
"Ebony, I'd rather be alone," Hermione said.
"Will you be okay?" Ebony asked.
"Yes but I need to think right now," Hermione replied.
Ebony nodded and went to the door. "Oh, I will be back to help you get ready for dinner," she said.
"I'm not going into that pit of snakes. They all hate me and I'd rather not face Voldemort," Hermione said.
"The Dark Lord will not be pleased but alright," Ebony said before she left.
Hermione lay on the settee and closed her eyes, her mind filled with everything she had learned. She was confused but perhaps some sleep would do her some good…